Norfolk
United Kingdom
- Countryside
- A walk on the wild side
- Country life
- Quiet and quirky
The famous Broads, the wild and wonder-filled beaches, the huge skies: Norfolk is a remote and inspiring corner of England, just a couple of hours from London.
This flat-as-a-pancake county is filled with historical houses and wild countryside, and criss-crossed with waterways. It also has perhaps the most fascinating, breathtaking and romantic coastline in the country.
Pictured: Fritton House
Boutique hotels in Norfolk
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Norfolk
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Norfolk has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Norfolk.
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Norfolk; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
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Road trip
This super seaside day out has everything from deserted dunes to kiss-me-quick resorts. Green lanes lead to round-tower churches and classic village pubs; north Norfolk is an old-fashioned treasure, so roll up your trouser-legs and get ready for rounders on the beach.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Even outside train stations, it can be hard to find a cab. Ask your hotel for details of a good local company and book ahead.
- Tipping culture
- About 15 per cent is appreciated.
- Packing tips
- This is one of the few places in the UK where swimming in the sea can be a wonderful, wonderful thing, so take your trunks or bikini.
- Recommended reads
- Malcolm Bradbury’s classic satire The History Man is based on his time as a teacher at the University of East Anglia in Norwich during the Seventies. WG Sebald, who wrote the brilliant Austerlitz, also taught at the university.
- Cuisine
- There’s lots of game, but best of all is the fish: Brancaster mussels and Cromer crab are favourites.
- Currency
- Pound sterling.
- Dialing codes
- Country code for the UK: +44.
- Do go/don't go
- Norfolk is among the sunniest and driest places in England – but it’s still in England, so there’s a chance of rain even in July.
